We spent a day in Mostar as part of a Balkan Road Trip. Mostar is a quaint riverside town, mainly visited for its top attraction; the Unesco World Heritage Old Bridge. Prior to planning this trip, I knew three things about Mostar; (1) it has a famous Bridge (2) the front line in the Bosnian War ran through Mostar and (3) the original Old Bridge was destroyed during the war, so the current Old Bridge isn’t old at all. We loved our trip to Mostar and here is my pick of the top 10 Things to do when visiting.

How to get to Mostar

We drove to Mostar from Dubrovnik and continued on the next day to Sarajevo. This is a scenic mountain drive, much of it through the Neretva valley alongside the picturesque blue-green river. There are also regular buses and trains between Mostar to Sarajevo.

Getting around Mostar

Mostar is compact and easily explored on foot. Our circular walking tour, which includes the attractions in my top 10, covers a distance of just over 2 miles.

Where to stay in Mostar

We stayed at the Villa Fortuna; a pleasant hotel with clean, comfortable rooms. Our room had a balcony with a view of Mostar.

Mostar: Top 10 Things to do

1	Visit the 16th Century Old Bridge
2	Shop for souvenirs in the Old Bazar
3	Stroll alongside the Neretva River
4	Visit the Karadoz Beg Mosque
5	Reflect at the Osman Dikic Mausoleum
6	Reflect at Spanski Trug
7	Admire the Gimnazija Mostar
8	Visit the Franciscan Church of Saint Peter & Paul
9	Climb the Mostar Peace Bell Tower
10	Cross the Crooked Bridge

No 1 – Visit the 16th Century Old Bridge

Cross the Old Bridge with its gorgeous view of the river and beyond. The famous stone bridge was originally constructed in the 16th Century. It was destroyed during the Bosnian War, but subsequently rebuild using 16th Century building techniques and stone from the original quarry.

The bridge is frequented by boys in budgie smugglers who will dive into to the river if you pay them enough. There wasn’t anyone around when we visited who was willing to part with any cash for this particularly act of bravery.

No 2 – Shop for souvenirs in the Old Bazar

The Old Bridge leads to the Old Bazar with its historic stone buildings, many of which now house souvenir shops.

We chose to dine in one of the restaurants here; Urban Taste of Orient, which has a terrace overlooking the bridge, a perfect spot for lunch and a beer.

No 3 – Stroll alongside the Neretva River

After lunch, continue with a stroll along the banks of the beautiful Neretva River with stunning views across to Mostar and the mountains beyond.

No 4 – Visit Karadoz Beg Mosque

Pass the 16th Century Karadoz Beg Mosque, badly damaged during the war, but now renovated.

No 5 – Reflect at the Osman Dikic Mausoleum

In the neighbouring graveyard, there is a mausoleum and lots of gravestones. It has the sort of uniformity only found in war cemeteries when so many graves are dug in a short space of time. A huge number of the gravestones date from 1993.

No 6 – Reflect at Spanski Trug

Onwards to Spanski Trug (Spanish Square). The road which runs through this area once formed the front line in the Bosnian war. Several ruined buildings remain with their walls sprayed with bullet holes. Most notably, the Ljubljanska Banka building. This strategically placed former bank was nicknamed Sniper Tower for reasons which are obvious.

Amidst the devastation, you can find plenty of street art.

No 7 – Admire the Gimnazija Mostar

This stunning orange building is actually a school. It dates back to 1879 and Austro-Hungarian Empire. Now, it houses a dual curriculum secondary school where Bosnian and Croatian children study side by side.

No 8 – Visit the Franciscan Church of Saint Peter & Paul

Round the day off at the Franciscan Church of Saint Peter & Paul. Badly damaged during the war, rebuilding work on this huge church with its enormous bell tower has been undertaken.

No 9 – Climb the Mostar Peace Bell Tower

Adjacent to the church is the Mostar Peace Bell Tower, which boasts a total height (including the cross) of 107 metres. You can climb 370 steps (helpfully numbered) to a 75 metre high viewing platform for a view over Mostar and the surrounding mountains. It might be possible to take a lift half way up. Who knows? It’s a bit random. When we visited, the lift was closed, but I think that was because the operator had gone for a cigarette…

The tower is open daily from 9 am until 5 pm. Entry costs 14KM (around £6).

No 10 – Cross the Crooked Bridge

The diminutive Crooked Bridge may be smaller than the Old Bridge, but it is in fact older – build 8 years beforehand to test out the design. Or not as it, too was rebuilt after the war. The bridge is a pretty sight, spanning the Radobolja River and surrounded by old mills.

I hope you found the above information useful. For more top picks from other destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full Top 10 Things To Do list here.

Other blogs about Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Bosnia & Herzegovina 3 Day Road Trip
• Sarajevo in 2 Days
• Sarajevo: Top 10 Things to do
• Mostar in 1 Day

• Trip Taken: September 2018
• Updated: February 2024